Product Details

• Actors: James Stephens, Tom Bosley, Tracy Nelson, Mary Wickes
• Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Paramount
• DVD Release Date: February 7, 2012
• Run Time: 474 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B006CR2OWM
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #731 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

An amiable, inquisitive Chicago priest moonlights as a detective and is assisted by a rather worldly, lock-picking nun.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

111 of 114 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Holy Crime Solving, Batman. ... Father Forgive for I have punned., December 27, 2011

By 

Lil MC - See all my reviews

This review is from: Father Dowling Mysteries: The First Season (DVD)

Father Dowling Mysteries was a brilliant, original, intelligently written, and super enjoyable mystery series starring Tom Bosley (most notably for some as Mr. Cunningham on Happy Days), Tracy Nelson (daughter of famed 60's rock singer Ricky Nelson, also the sister of Gunnar and Matthew Nelson of late 80's early 90's hair band Nelson), and Mary Wickes (notably from the feature films "Sister Act" and "Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit" as Sister Mary Lazarus).

Bosley plays Father Frank Dowling, the priest of a Chicago parish who runs around the windy city with his right-hand streetwise nun, Sister Stephanie "Steve" Oskowski (played by Nelson), solving murders, much in the tradition of "Murder, She Wrote" and "Diagnosis Murder". Father Dowling and Sister Steve are supported by housekeeper Marie (portrayed by Mary Wickes). Father Dowling and Sister Steve investigate murders, and in the tradition of the aforemention "Murder, She Wrote", outsmarting the police and criminals themselves while uncovering deeper hidden clues that the police overlook.

This series started in January 1989 with a total of 8 episodes in its first season. The series was launched by a tv-movie called "Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery" which aired in 1987. The show was not given its proper due as it ended in 1991 at the end of its third season. I hope that the tv-movie that started it all will be included in this release. The phrase "they don't make shows like this anymore" is absolutely true about high caliber shows like this one.

If you miss the days when shows weren't hyper-sexualized, when mysteries were solved without grotesque gore, vulgar language, and toilet humor, if you miss the days when tv used to have substance, then you will LOVE "Father Dowling Mysteries". If you are a fan of "Murder, She Wrote" and "Diagnosis Murder", then you will LOVE "Father Dowling Mysteries". Father Dowling and Sister Steve solve crimes with some pluck, determination, intelligence, and heavenly guidance. This show will give you something to believe in.

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, January 13, 2012

By 

Sean E. Sand "Adventerous Reader" (Alachua Fl) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Father Dowling Mysteries: The First Season (DVD)

I have been waiting for this video for ever!!! The series is well written, produced, and portrayed! I am so glad they have finally gotten around to putting it out there on DVD.

42 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars finally released.....been waiting for this series to be released, December 17, 2011

By 

DEvans - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Father Dowling Mysteries: The First Season (DVD)

I have really enjoyed this series. It ranks up there with Murder She Wrote and Diagnosis Murder. My VCR tapes are about worn out. This is a real good series and I hope they release them all. They are that good.